Bevan French has revealed the key test that Wigan Warriors will face as they host Hull KR in potentially the biggest game of the Super League season.
The Warriors and the Robins are currently level on points at the top of the Super League table, with KR ahead of points difference.
Therefore, with just two games to go after this Friday’s fixture for both sides, this one could determine the winners of this year’s League Leaders’ Shield.
Wigan are currently the holders of the shield, winning it on points difference after an unprecedented three-way tie for themselves, St Helens and Catalans Dragons on 40 points last year.
Meanwhile, this would be Hull KR’s first-ever League Leaders’ Shield if they were to get over the line.
Bevan French reveals key test for Wigan Warriors ahead of Hull KR clash
Wigan star Bevan French, after a hamstring injury had kept him out of action, returned for victory over Catalans Dragons last week, and has spoken to club media about the prospect of such a big game.
He said: “I think we’re all quite aware of it this week.
A Friday night, it’s predicted to be good weather and a top of the table clash against a team that is really firing at the moment – I can’t remember the last time they were beaten, it’s been a while for them so it’s going to be great.
"It’s always a big clash coming up against these guys, not only this year but the past couple of years it’s been really competitive. Hopefully it’ll be a full stadium, it’s a great fixture.”
It is expected to be a big crowd, with over 15,000 tickets already sold. However, french said this could prove a unique test for his side, saying: “It does give you an extra spring in your step but it’s also about remaining calm and collected especially during defence.
“It is exciting, of course, but the test is to try and stay calm during those times as well as using the crowd in our good periods."
https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/bevan-fr ... ash-96574/
Bevan French reveals key test for Wigan Warriors ahead of Hull KR clash
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josie andrews
- Posts: 38490
- Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:17 pm
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Bevan French reveals key test for Wigan Warriors ahead of Hull KR clash
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
-
josie andrews
- Posts: 38490
- Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:17 pm
- Location: Wigan
- Contact:
Re: Bevan6 French reveals key test for Wigan Warriors ahead of Hull KR clash
David Hodgson returns to Wigan with hometown club Hull KR now a big beast
Hull KR assistant coach Hodgson looks forward to top-of-table clash against club where he made his name
Hull-born coach David Hodgson's career will return to familiar territory when he goes back to Wigan Warriors - who he scored for in a Grand Final as a teenager - now with Hull Kingston Rovers for a big game on Friday night.
Hull KR assistant coach Hodgson, who started alongside Rovers head coach Willie Peters for Wigan on that Grand Final night, is now helping to plot the East Yorkshire club's plans as they face a modern-day Wigan side who are level with them on points at the top of the Super League table. It will be another special night for Hodgson, who has been coaching at Rovers for a decade, having also briefly come out of retirement as a player-coach in 2017 to help the club after they had been relegated, to help revive them.
Back in the days when Hodgson first moved away from Hull and then eventually returned and helped Rovers' revival as a player, nights like what is coming on Friday might have felt like a pipe dream. Now, with the help of men like Hodgson, it is a reality. He once played for a big beast, Wigan; now he is returning with a new big beast, Hull KR, to coach against them.
Former Great Britain back Hodgson, now 43, has been helping a Rovers attack who are now leading points scorers in Super League this season, and will now go to the club where he made his name. "I had five years at Wigan," he recalls. "I went there as an 18 year old. Luckily enough I played in finals and got some great memories. I played with some great players like Andy Farrell, Kris Radlinski, Steve Renouf, Gary Connolly, the list goes on. People like Gary Connolly and Steve Renouf, I'd grown up watching them as a young outside back so it was great to play rugby with them.
"Willie came as a young half-back coming through and I had the pleasure of working with Willie as a player, and we still get on now. I was only a young man back then and you never know where your careers are going to go. Willie was always a smart player, a smart half-back. With half-backs, that's their job to control a team and lead them around the pitch."
Hodgson and Peters lost the 2000 Grand Final against St Helens before the latter returned to Australia to play for St George Illawarra. Hodgson, though, stayed and went on to win the 2002 Challenge Cup final against St Helens in a season when he was Wigan's top try scorer.
Asked to compare Wigan as a club back then with where Rovers are now, Hodgson says: "Back in the 90s Wigan were a phenomenal team, way before when I got to the club, but our club's building. We've been building for the last few years and taking strides forward. We've just got to keep building on that to be as good as we can, and consistently as good as we can.
"When I got the opportunity to come back (to Rovers as a player in 2012), I took it with both hands. I lived in Wigan for 12 years. Then I ended up back at home. Being back closer to family was important to me at the time. To come back at home and still be able to score tries was good."
Hodgson's Hull KR playing days ended in him joining Rovers' coaching team - plus the brief stint as player-coach when he came out of retirement. "I love coaching," he says. "It's something I always thought of getting in to, I enjoyed helping some of the younger players. It was great of the club to give me the opportunity starting with the lower levels, the academy, and building my way up into the first team."
As for these days, the former back has an array of talent to work with. "Ryan Hall and Peta Hiku are doing well, Gilly (Oliver Gildart), Joe Burgess, and we've got younger players coming through, Broady (Jack Broadbent) is an exciting player. There's great competition for places."
Looking ahead to Friday, the excitement is tangible. "My job is to do as well as I can with Rovers and I'm looking forward to the game on Friday night," he says. "It's a great game to be involved in."
https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... wn-9528322
Hull KR assistant coach Hodgson looks forward to top-of-table clash against club where he made his name
Hull-born coach David Hodgson's career will return to familiar territory when he goes back to Wigan Warriors - who he scored for in a Grand Final as a teenager - now with Hull Kingston Rovers for a big game on Friday night.
Hull KR assistant coach Hodgson, who started alongside Rovers head coach Willie Peters for Wigan on that Grand Final night, is now helping to plot the East Yorkshire club's plans as they face a modern-day Wigan side who are level with them on points at the top of the Super League table. It will be another special night for Hodgson, who has been coaching at Rovers for a decade, having also briefly come out of retirement as a player-coach in 2017 to help the club after they had been relegated, to help revive them.
Back in the days when Hodgson first moved away from Hull and then eventually returned and helped Rovers' revival as a player, nights like what is coming on Friday might have felt like a pipe dream. Now, with the help of men like Hodgson, it is a reality. He once played for a big beast, Wigan; now he is returning with a new big beast, Hull KR, to coach against them.
Former Great Britain back Hodgson, now 43, has been helping a Rovers attack who are now leading points scorers in Super League this season, and will now go to the club where he made his name. "I had five years at Wigan," he recalls. "I went there as an 18 year old. Luckily enough I played in finals and got some great memories. I played with some great players like Andy Farrell, Kris Radlinski, Steve Renouf, Gary Connolly, the list goes on. People like Gary Connolly and Steve Renouf, I'd grown up watching them as a young outside back so it was great to play rugby with them.
"Willie came as a young half-back coming through and I had the pleasure of working with Willie as a player, and we still get on now. I was only a young man back then and you never know where your careers are going to go. Willie was always a smart player, a smart half-back. With half-backs, that's their job to control a team and lead them around the pitch."
Hodgson and Peters lost the 2000 Grand Final against St Helens before the latter returned to Australia to play for St George Illawarra. Hodgson, though, stayed and went on to win the 2002 Challenge Cup final against St Helens in a season when he was Wigan's top try scorer.
Asked to compare Wigan as a club back then with where Rovers are now, Hodgson says: "Back in the 90s Wigan were a phenomenal team, way before when I got to the club, but our club's building. We've been building for the last few years and taking strides forward. We've just got to keep building on that to be as good as we can, and consistently as good as we can.
"When I got the opportunity to come back (to Rovers as a player in 2012), I took it with both hands. I lived in Wigan for 12 years. Then I ended up back at home. Being back closer to family was important to me at the time. To come back at home and still be able to score tries was good."
Hodgson's Hull KR playing days ended in him joining Rovers' coaching team - plus the brief stint as player-coach when he came out of retirement. "I love coaching," he says. "It's something I always thought of getting in to, I enjoyed helping some of the younger players. It was great of the club to give me the opportunity starting with the lower levels, the academy, and building my way up into the first team."
As for these days, the former back has an array of talent to work with. "Ryan Hall and Peta Hiku are doing well, Gilly (Oliver Gildart), Joe Burgess, and we've got younger players coming through, Broady (Jack Broadbent) is an exciting player. There's great competition for places."
Looking ahead to Friday, the excitement is tangible. "My job is to do as well as I can with Rovers and I'm looking forward to the game on Friday night," he says. "It's a great game to be involved in."
https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... wn-9528322
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
-
josie andrews
- Posts: 38490
- Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:17 pm
- Location: Wigan
- Contact:
Re: Bevan French reveals key test for Wigan Warriors ahead of Hull KR clash
French: A big clash
Bevan French looks ahead to Friday’s Top of the table clash.
French: “Hopefully it’ll be a full stadium, it’s a great fixture.”
Join us at The Brick Community Stadium this Friday. Get your tickets HERE.
BEVAN FRENCH HAS REFLECTED ON HIS RETURN TO ACTION WHILST LOOKING AHEAD TO FRIDAY’S TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH AT THE BRICK COMMUNITY STADIUM.
After two months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, Bevan French made his return to action in Saturday’s win away at Catalans Dragons.
Speaking on his return, he said: “It’s good to be back. The most important part was getting through the 80 minutes on the weekend and coming out of it with no dramas, no niggling injuries and anything like that. I felt good and it’s good to be back.
“I thought it was a pretty hard game but it was good to be back and get through it all. It’s probably a good game to be a part of on my first one back as it wasn’t smooth sailing, it was a bit gritty.”
Looking ahead to Friday’s top of the table fixture, French said: “I think we’re all quite aware of it this week. A Friday night, it’s predicted to be good weather and a top of the table clash against a team that is really firing at the moment – I can’t remember the last time they were beaten, it’s been a while for them so it’s going to be great.
It’s always a big clash coming up against these guys, not only this year but the past couple of years it’s been really competitive. Hopefully it’ll be a full stadium, it’s a great fixture.”
With a bumper crowd expected at The Brick Community Stadium on Friday, French is relishing the opportunity of having the support of the crowd: “It does give you an extra spring in your step but it’s also about remaining calm and collected especially during defence. It is exciting, of course, but the test is to try and stay calm during those times as well as using the crowd in our good periods.”
On Friday, the Warriors will continue to celebrate The Brick, including wearing out Charity Third Kit for the occasion. On the Charity, French added: “They do a lot for the Community in Wigan, everyone here at the Club is aware of what they do and hopefully we can celebrate that in a packed out stadium on Friday.”
With over 15,000 tickets already sold, secure your seat now for Friday’s thrilling clash against Hull KR at The Brick Community Stadium! Tickets are available from The Brick Community Stadium Ticket Office Mon-Fri (9am-5pm) and online HERE.
https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/09/ ... big-clash/
Bevan French looks ahead to Friday’s Top of the table clash.
French: “Hopefully it’ll be a full stadium, it’s a great fixture.”
Join us at The Brick Community Stadium this Friday. Get your tickets HERE.
BEVAN FRENCH HAS REFLECTED ON HIS RETURN TO ACTION WHILST LOOKING AHEAD TO FRIDAY’S TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH AT THE BRICK COMMUNITY STADIUM.
After two months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, Bevan French made his return to action in Saturday’s win away at Catalans Dragons.
Speaking on his return, he said: “It’s good to be back. The most important part was getting through the 80 minutes on the weekend and coming out of it with no dramas, no niggling injuries and anything like that. I felt good and it’s good to be back.
“I thought it was a pretty hard game but it was good to be back and get through it all. It’s probably a good game to be a part of on my first one back as it wasn’t smooth sailing, it was a bit gritty.”
Looking ahead to Friday’s top of the table fixture, French said: “I think we’re all quite aware of it this week. A Friday night, it’s predicted to be good weather and a top of the table clash against a team that is really firing at the moment – I can’t remember the last time they were beaten, it’s been a while for them so it’s going to be great.
It’s always a big clash coming up against these guys, not only this year but the past couple of years it’s been really competitive. Hopefully it’ll be a full stadium, it’s a great fixture.”
With a bumper crowd expected at The Brick Community Stadium on Friday, French is relishing the opportunity of having the support of the crowd: “It does give you an extra spring in your step but it’s also about remaining calm and collected especially during defence. It is exciting, of course, but the test is to try and stay calm during those times as well as using the crowd in our good periods.”
On Friday, the Warriors will continue to celebrate The Brick, including wearing out Charity Third Kit for the occasion. On the Charity, French added: “They do a lot for the Community in Wigan, everyone here at the Club is aware of what they do and hopefully we can celebrate that in a packed out stadium on Friday.”
With over 15,000 tickets already sold, secure your seat now for Friday’s thrilling clash against Hull KR at The Brick Community Stadium! Tickets are available from The Brick Community Stadium Ticket Office Mon-Fri (9am-5pm) and online HERE.
https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/09/ ... big-clash/
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan